Eminence (Wattpad Edition)

Note 19 - Uneasiness

Dear Universe,

It's me, Anika. I'm currently on a road trip to the shore with some new friends I've just made. And honestly? I fear we've already reached a breaking point. This might be the most uncomfortable atmosphere I've ever experienced inside a moving vehicle, and we still have an hour left to go.

I know I only just met them, but so much has happened already. There are four of them, and the dynamic between them is... well, complicated.

Two of them are human. Their connection to our world is through a vampire they both know. One of them is actually in a relationship with said vampire—wild, I know. The other... I'm not so sure.

Then there's a vampire from the noble Ashford family. Apparently, they used to be engaged to the vampire who's now with a human. Naturally, that didn't go over well. And now that same Ashford is maybe in a relationship with the other human? Except they also have to pretend to still be engaged to their ex?

Confusing, right? I'm there with you.

I wish I knew what they were thinking. What they were feeling. I'm used to feeling the people I care about. But there's only silence in this van... So I'm filling the silence in my mind with my own voice. That's why I'm talking to you.

Do you think they only hear their own voices in their heads, too?

Are they agonizing over the things that happened? Do they wish they could know what others are thinking?

I wish I could. That's what friends do, right? They trust each other. They share. Do they trust me? Even a little? It's only been a month. But to know so little about the people I think I know? To feel this shut out? It hurts a little more than I thought it would.

"Anika?" Emanon's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Yes!?" she replied, startled.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. You've been staring out the window for a while. Are you okay?"

"Oh! Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about when I was younger. Road trips used to make me nervous. We'd be halfway through, my dad focused on the road, my mom reading... It felt so quiet. I didn't like it back then."
She smiled faintly. "But then, without even looking up, my mom would start telling me made-up stories. Just for me. Her voice in my head would calm me down. I guess I miss that."

"Oh. I didn't know you could do that with your family," Emanon said.

"You can. If the bond's strong enough, you can share a connection like that. It takes a while, but yeah, it's one of a kind. Humans only experience it through a contract, but for us... it's something that can just happen. If you're really close."

"That is incredible..." Emanon looked down at her hands. "I'm sure there's a lot about our people and culture I've forgotten."

"It's not your fault, Em. You don't have to know everything. But if you ever want to learn more, we could go to the library sometime."

Emanon lit up a little. "That would be great. I'd love that. Thank you."

"Of course."

Small talk helps, Anika thought. But it doesn't fix the weird tension in the van. She wanted to be excited for the beach, for the weekend, but...

"It's wild how knocked out they are..." Emanon muttered.

"Who?" Anika asked.

"Warren and Theo. They've been asleep almost the whole ride."